Nurturing the Human Spirit for a World Made Whole |
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Virtual Worship Service
this Sunday, May 30 at 11:15 am
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Collective Grieving
Memorial Day is a time set aside for collective mourning. This year we mourn the deaths from COVID-19 of almost 3.5 million people worldwide. This year we mourn the deaths of our loved ones and friends who died from causes unrelated to COVID-19, but because of the pandemic we were unable to grieve for them in our usual ways. This Memorial Day Weekend, let us come together to celebrate their lives, to honor the myriad ways we have mourned, and to acknowledge the ways in which our grief will continue to be actively with us as we gather together in-person more frequently and with more people.
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Traveling the Road to Return |
Time is going by too quickly. After a year when time seemed to stop, it is now hurtling toward us like a tidal wave. Things are changing daily and more change is coming. In my house, we are preparing to have both adult children leave home at the end of the summer, leaving my husband and me as empty nesters. He’s thrilled. I’m a little devastated. At church we are saying goodbye to Rev. Karen and figuring out how to be a faith community in an entirely new way. We are having to make decisions and navigate being together in-person again, safely, comfortably, and in covenant. |
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From Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Senior Minister |
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Hats Off to Carol Nielsen!
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Hats Off to Carol Nielsen for her everlasting commitment to volunteering at UCE. Carol organized the Mitten Tree for many years until 2020, coordinating gifts for families during the holiday season, wrapping, delivering, and gathering volunteers to make sure Mitten Tree is successful. Carol organized Souper-Bowl Sunday each February raising money for food pantries. Carol has shared her love of sewing and quilt making by providing stoles for every intern who passed through this church and for the installation of ministers over the years. She has worked on UCE banners that hang in the sanctuary as well as the ones carried at General Assembly. Carol was Project Manager and worked closely with Sandra on the lovely much-needed kitchen renovation. Carol has served on the Capital Campaign Planning Team, Board of Trustees, Endowment and many other committee.
Carol teamed up with Sandra once again to plan and launch the first-ever UCE Parking Lot Pop-Up Sale (Harry Hirsch's naming) which brought a few hundred people out last Saturday, 30 congregation volunteers who had the chance to see each other in person for the first time in a year, and raised over $3,500. Carol, we value your experience, your time, your abilities and your dedication to this church, its people and its building. You just might get the prize for wearing the most hats!! Thank you.
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Flower Communion Pictures |
Please participate in our annual flower communion service on June 6th by sending in a photo or two of your favorite flowers. Whether they are from your garden, home, or neighborhood, please share your jpegs to this folder by June 1st!
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Thanks and Farewell Celebration
for Rev. Karen
Join us on June 6th after the Flower Communion Service to say goodbye and express our gratitude
for the tremendous gift of ministry Rev. Karen has given us. We'll meet on the coffee hour link (Zoom)
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UCE Building Availability - The UCE building and grounds are available on a limited basis to small gatherings. Please read the updated UCE's Reopening Guidelines before contacting staff about availability.
Chalice Lighters Needed - If you would like to light the UCE chalice OR record you and your family lighting a chalice at home to be used in the Sunday service, please send an email to Rev. Eileen.
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Endowment Fund Application Deadline is May 31. More info below.
Thanks and Farewell Celebration for Rev. Karen is June 6 following the service.
Sidewalk Chalk Games and Art is June 6 at 4 pm. More info below.
UCE's Annual Calendaring Event is June 12 at 10 am. Between now and June 9th, submit your planned or possible events to Jessica Meis to create a proposed calendar.
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This Week's Events & Links |
Sunday, May 30
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Chris Isely Cancer Support Group at 9:30 am via Zoom - Email Renee Hoff for details.
Monday, May 31
Tuesday, June 1
Wednesday, June 2
Thursday, June 3
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Virtual Meditation at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Email Andrea DeMers for the link.
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We are looking forward to the future at UCE, excited to be exploring ways of building a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming community of faith for all people. The staff and Covid Task Force are thinking of you as we consider how to return to in-person gatherings, safely and comfortably, while maintaining some of the convenience and accessibility of on-line worship and gatherings. Multi-platform or multi-access (which means multiple ways of participating, experiencing, and sharing) worship and congregational life will be a new venture for all of us and we need your input.
Please take some time to fill out this survey. It should take (7-8) minutes to complete. Your answers will be anonymous and will not be traced back to you. We value your open feedback.
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With gratitude and love beyond belief,
Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Rev. Susan Frances, and Staff
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Anti-Oppression Task Force Update |
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The Anti-Oppression Task Force Planning Group has assisted the UCE Board with entering into a contract with YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s Equity Institute. As consultants, the YWCA will assist with the formation of our anti-oppression task force. Thank you to everyone who submitted an interest form for this task force. You will be hearing from Rev. Eileen Wiviott or Rev. Susan Frances shortly.
The Planning Group has officially dissolved after setting the foundation for the newly forming anti-oppression task force to begin its job of dismantling white supremacy culture in our congregation and working with community partners. Thank you to everyone who has been involved...
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Endowment Task Force Update |
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As a reminder, the Endowment Task Force consists of two members of the Endowment Committee, (Jane Kenamore and Margaret Schatz), two members of the Board of Trustees (Joe Romeo and Tom Ticknor), two members representing the Integrated Stewardship Council (Rob Wingader and Susan Comstock) and one member at large to represent the congregation as a whole, (Alice Swan).
So far the ETF has met three times. We have been working to identify issues we hope to address. We began by listing those topics of which we were aware based on our experience. We have added many more that were submitted by members of the congregation in response to our survey. We are building collaboration and developing a plan to address concerns which will ultimately be presented to the congregation.
We also want to be sure that we keep track of those practices we want to continue. If you would like, please send Joe Romeo a note to include any of those which occur to you. Thank you very much for the continued interest in this critical asset.
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Endowment Fund: Deadline for Grant Applications |
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The final deadline for submitting Endowment Fund grant applications during the current church year will be May 31. There is about $10,000-$15,000 available for disbursement from the 2020-21 distribution amount.
Endowment Funds are a significant resource for our community because they can be used to support special initiatives that further the mission and work of UCE. For additional information, read What Can Endowment Funds be Used for? at UCE Endowment Fund: Frequently Asked Questions.
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Congregational Connections |
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2021 Minns Lecture Series - Last Session May 28 |
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The Minns Lectures Committee sponsors an annual series of free lectures by UU ministers on religious topics. The 2021 Minns Lecturer is Dr. Anthony B. Pinn, who is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University. His 3-part lecture series explores the various aspects concerning the rabid nationalism and marginalization of despised populations marking so much of public life in the United States. |
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Annual UCE Calendaring Event |
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The Board and Rev. Eileen are hosting a calendaring event on Saturday, June 12th at 10-11 am. The purpose of this event is to create together a shared calendar of major events and programs throughout the year. It will be a time to vision together, see where there are potential conflicts, and share our space and energy more abundantly.
Between now and June 9th, we would like each group to discuss any planned or possible events and programs and send those events (with preferred times and dates) to Jessica Meis at admin@ucevanston.org. She will put these onto a proposed calendar that we will then review together on the 12th. We’ll go through month by month and work through any issues or adjustments that need to be made.
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Announcing a Virtual Coffee Table with REAL
on June 13 during Coffee Hour!
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Remember when you used to walk around the tables during coffee hour and a group or two would have information about what they are doing and how you can participate? Well, now you can join a specific breakout room during coffee hour to do the same! If you are curious about what the Racial Equity Action and Leadership (REAL) Team are doing or how you can get involved in their educational or racial justice events, please join the coffee hour after the service on June 13th. The REAL Team will be hosting one of the breakout rooms. We look forward to connecting with you! |
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Rainbow Alliance PRIDE Bonfire |
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Rainbow Alliance is hosting a bonfire on June 13th to celebrate PRIDE month, from 6:30-8 pm on the Church Lawn. Come dressed in your best PRIDE gear and mask and bring a chair or blanket to hang out with us on the lawn. We will supply Smores kits!
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Are you contemplating attending the virtual General Assembly (GA) this year?
There are scholarships available from UCE Endowment and from the UUA to cover the registration fee. The dates are June 23 - 27, 2021. More than 20 members attended last year. This year there is a youth track, so families can attend together.
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Parents’ Chat: Coffee with Kathy – Saturday, June 5 or Sunday, June 13 at 10 am – Join me for a virtual cup of coffee (or tea) and share your thoughts about our Faith Formation (RE) Program this fall as we look at ways of being back together in person again. Sign up here!
Sidewalk Chalk Games and Art – June 6th – 4-5:30 pm! All ages are invited to gather in the UCE parking lot for some sidewalk chalk games and art! Bring a spirit of playfulness and your creativity!
High School Youth - June 27 will be our next gathering, either late afternoon or early evening. Look for an email with details soon!
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Current and Upcoming Adult Religious Education |
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Sealed by Katie Langston: Q&A with the Author – Tuesday, June 1 at 7 pm - Katie Langston’s memoir, Sealed, tells the story of her conversion to mainline Christianity out of Mormonism. Attendance at the 4/27 reading group led by Ruth Orme-Johnson is not required to also attend the Q&A.
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Deepening UU Identity - June 30 at 6:30-8 pm at UCE –Ever wonder what's up in the balcony? Did you even know we had a balcony? What's it like to stand in the pulpit or peek behind the chancel? Do you even know what the chancel is or how it got there? Come to church for a tour of the building you thought you knew. Learn about the history of our congregation, what the church was like when we first moved in. Join in a scavenger hunt of hidden passageways and lost artifacts. This is an event for all ages and whole families. As with all church activities, you'll need to wear a mask.
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Forum Discussion - Next Sunday, June 6 |
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Have you attended it? Avoided it? Wondered about it? A team is forming to plan 9 months of Forums for next church year, that is 18 sessions in all (two per month). Would you like to offer some topics for the Forum to tackle next year? You are invited to help shape these sessions. Your input is gonna be helpful. Email or call Shirley Adams, Diane Markel, Bob Mesle, or Steve Serikaku and offer ideas or join the team! The more, the merrier! |
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The UCE Fiction Book Group will discuss Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler on June 18 at 7-8:30 pm via Zoom.
Evoking Jane Austen, Emma Straub, and other masters of the literary marriage, Breathing Lessons celebrates the small miracles and magic of truly knowing someone. Unfolding over the course of a single emotionally fraught day, the marriage of Ira and Maggie Moran reckon with a lifetime of dreams, regrets and reckonings. This is widely regarded as Tyler’s seminal work and earned her the Pulitzer Prize.
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The UCE Nonfiction Book Group will meet at 2 pm on Sunday, June 27th to discuss Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History by Kurt Andersen.
The author argues that America needs to change its political economy from one in which big business gets whatever it wants and the rich get richer at the expense of most Americans to one that works for the majority and for the long run.
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Connections for the Homeless
Urgent Need for Lunches
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Connections for the Homeless provides sack lunches at three locations in Evanston, Monday through Friday, year round. Volunteer sign-ups are not keeping up with the need right now. If you have been thinking about trying this, NOW is the time.
For everyone who has been contributing to this effort since last October, Bravo! - and a great big Thank You! This is a very satisfying project that can be done by volunteers who want to help, but need to avoid close contact with the public. It can be done by one person, or you can get together with a partner to share the tasks (and fun - put on the music while you make sandwiches).
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Now Accepting Nominees for the 2021-2022 Shared Plate Program |
The Social Justice Council invites you to submit nominees for the 2021-2022 Shared Plate Program. Each year, UCE’s Shared Plate Program donates half of the Sunday offering received to 13 organizations in support of their social justice efforts. The deadline for submitting a Nomination Form is June 30, 2021.
Organizations may be nominated by a UCE member or staff. For 2021-2022, in light of the reality of our present crises, in order to be eligible for the Shared Plate Program an organization must address systemic racism and/or the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the poor.
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Rainbow Alliance Meets June 1 |
Rainbow Alliance Meets on Tuesday, June 1 - All are Invited! Rainbow Alliance's next planning meeting will be held on June 1 at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in joining, please email Lizzy at eapowers1019@gmail.com or Jordan at jordan.strueber@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
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UCE and the Green Team are on the move this summer! Head outside to walk, to garden, to restore nature and your spirits.
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Saturday, June 5, 1pm. Zoom in with the Green Team and offer your ideas and energy. Click here to join.
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Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave. Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1330
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